Pilot study of current factors influencing the choice of psychiatry as a specialty

OBJECTIVE: This is a time of major shifts in the perception of medical specialties. The authors have attempted to assess current attitudes of potential applicants for a residency in psychiatry. METHOD: Pilot interviews with fourth-year medical students at the University of California, San Francisco, led to the development of a questionnaire on factors influencing the choice of psychiatry as a specialty. The questionnaire was then sent to 113 fourth-year students with an identified psychiatric interest at nine schools. RESULTS: There was a response rate of 50.4%. The 54 students with a clear career decision had 22 of 38 item responses that significantly distinguished between those who matched in psychiatry and those who chose other specialties. CONCLUSIONS: Focused recruitment strategies are suggested based on answers to the questionnaire items.